India pilots hydrogen train and buses in clean mobility push

In late July, India's national railway reached a new milestone: a retrofitted hydrogen-powered train coach chugged along the tracks at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, emitting nothing but water vapor[64][65]. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw heralded the successful test, noting that India is developing a 1,200 horsepower hydrogen train that will put it among the world's leaders in hydrogen rail technology[64][65].

A video of the gleaming blue-and-white "Hydrogen Drive" coach's maiden run quickly went viral on social media – a tangible sign of the country's commitment to cleaner, futuristic transport. This hydrogen train, expected to begin service on the heritage Jind–Sonipat route in Haryana, is part of a pilot project costing ₹136 crore (~$16 million)[66][67].

While initially aimed at a short route, it represents a test bed for hydrogen in India's vast rail network, the world's fourth largest. If successful, Indian Railways plans to introduce 35 hydrogen trains on select lines, especially in pristine hill regions where diesel locomotives are currently used[68].

It's not just trains. Around the same time, India launched five pilot projects to deploy 37 hydrogen-powered buses and trucks across the country[69]. Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission – a government initiative with a multi-billion dollar budget – these pilots will see 15 fuel-cell electric buses and 22 hydrogen internal-combustion engine trucks put into service on key routes[69][70].

The routes span major corridors (Delhi-Agra, Mumbai-Pune) and even challenging terrains (an NTPC-run hydrogen bus in the high-altitude Leh region has already been proven)[71]. To support the fleet, nine new hydrogen refuelling stations are being built at strategic locations[70].

The program ropes in heavyweight Indian companies: Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland for vehicles, Indian Oil and Reliance Industries for fuel and infrastructure, and state power companies like NTPC for project execution[72]. The government has allocated ₹208 crore (about $25 million) to subsidize these efforts, which are expected to be operational within 18–24 months[73].

These moves are a dramatic push to validate hydrogen's practicality in India's transport mix. The stakes are high. If hydrogen vehicles can run reliably on India's roads and rails, they could significantly cut urban air pollution and reduce India's dependence on imported oil (the country is one of the world's largest oil importers).

They would also advance India's climate goals by trimming emissions from the notoriously hard-to-abate transport sector. Officials describe the pilots as "a crucial test for India's hydrogen ambitions" – success could pave the way for wider adoption across the sprawling bus networks and even freight corridors[74].

Of course, challenges abound. Hydrogen fuel is still far more expensive than diesel, and building a whole new fuelling infrastructure is a massive undertaking. India's approach, however, is to start small and learn by doing.

The pilots will gather data on vehicle performance, fuel efficiency, and maintenance in Indian conditions (from the summer heat of Rajasthan to the monsoon-soaked roads of Kerala). This data will inform policymakers whether hydrogen is viable at scale and where it makes most sense. For instance, hydrogen buses might thrive on shorter urban loops with central refueling, while hydrogen locomotives could be game-changers on non-electrified rail routes.

Notably, India's hydrogen initiatives align with trends in other regions. Japan already runs thousands of fuel-cell cars and buses, and plans hydrogen trains for the future[75]. South Korea is targeting 30,000 hydrogen trucks on its roads by 2035[75].

Germany has put hydrogen trains into regular service, and California is investing heavily in hydrogen trucks and fueling stations[75]. The key everywhere is achieving cost parity with conventional fuels.

That will require scaling up manufacturing (to drive down fuel-cell costs), expanding renewable energy (to produce green hydrogen cheaply), and possibly carbon pricing to make diesel less competitive. India is keenly aware of these factors; its strategy includes large-scale green hydrogen production plans and incentives for localization of equipment manufacturing.

As the hydrogen coach in Chennai came to a halt after its test run, railway engineers were visibly jubilant – a small victory in a long journey. The scene encapsulates India's dual ethos: technological optimism tempered by pragmatic trial.

The coming years will reveal whether these hydrogen vehicles can move from pilot phase to mainstream reality. If they do, India's commuters might one day routinely board quiet, zero-emission trains and buses – a transformation of daily life powered by the simplest, lightest element in the universe.